HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. \
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Staton, Martin,
Varner, Pino, Douglas, Michael, Mezzatesta, Givens,
Manuel, Trump, Faircloth, Riggs and Harrison)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to
continue to study the needs of court facilities throughout
West Virginia in relation to spatial needs to accommodate the
various judicial offices and functions, to meet compliance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), to meet
security needs and to accommodate other aspects which affect
the overall effectiveness and operations of the judicial
system.
Whereas, During the past year the Joint Committee on Government
and Finance has undertaken a study on the needs of courthouse
facilities throughout West Virginia; and
Whereas, There has been found a critical need to address the
capacity of existing court facilities to accommodate the addition
of personnel and technological changes; and
Whereas, The Joint Committee on Government and Finance
has
received input which outlines concern for county facilities
relating to historic preservation, ADA compliance, telephone and
other technological systems, fire safety and other issues of
security, the use of former jail space and other issues; and
Whereas, The Legislature recognizes its responsibility to address the need for upgrades to the existing court facilities;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to appoint a study committee to consist of four members
of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Delegates, four members of the Senate to be appointed by
the President of the Senate. The study committee shall be allowed
to continue to receive advice and assistance from the various
county officials who participated in the study committee of the
previous year; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the study committee shall be directed
to continue to review, examine and study the needs of the existing
court facilities relating to the following areas of concern;
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,
appropriateness and location of facilities, renovation and historic
preservation of courthouses, preparation for new technology,
additional space requirements brought about by any judicial reforms
such as addition of new circuit judges or addition of new family
law courts, upgrade of telephone systems, space for 911 emergency
centers, the use of former jail space and any other issue relating
to the use of court facilities; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the committee shall study the financial
impact of any proposed changes to the existing court facilities, including recommendations from architectural and engineering
services, and shall prepare a report on the individual needs and
financial requirements to address the needs for each individual
county; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the committee is directed to report to
the Joint Committee on Government and Finance by January 1, 2001,
on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, and to submit a
plan designed to establish sufficient funding mechanisms to enable
all necessary upgrades of court facilities to be undertaken, and to
submit any drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate any
recommendations it makes.